The national selectors have included Dhawal Kulkarni and Murali Vijay into India's 16-man Test squad for the forthcoming Test series against New Zealand. Apart from these, medium-pacer Lakshmipathy Balaji and Dinesh Karthik are also included in the test squad. The selection of fast bowler Dhawal Kulkarni was a surprise package as he made his first class debut for Mumbai just six months back.

 

India's 42-day tour to New Zealand will begin with a Twenty20 International in Christchurch on February 25 and another T20 match in Wellington two days later.  Apart from the Test squad, the selectors also announced one-day and Twenty20 squads. India will play five one-dayers and two Twenty20 games against the Kiwis. While Balaji has been included only in the Test squad, Dinesh Karthik will appear as second wicket-keeper in all the three squads.

 

Test Squad:

Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Virender Sehwag (vice-captain), Gautam Gambhir, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, V.V.S. Laxman, Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Ishant Sharma, Munaf Patel, Murali Vijay, Amit Mishra, L. Balaji, Dhawal Kulkarni, Dinesh Karthik.

 

ODI Squad:

Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Virender Sehwag (vice-captain), Gautam Gambhir, Sachin Tendulkar, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Yusuf Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Ishant Sharma, Munaf Patel, Irfan Pathan, Pragyan Ojha, Rohit Sharma, Dinesh Karthik, Praveen Kumar.

 

Twenty20 Squad:

Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Virender Sehwag (vice-captain), Gautam Gambhir, Yuvraj Singh, Yusuf Pathan, Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja, Munaf Patel, Pragyan Ojha, Dinesh Karthik, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Ishant Sharma, Irfan Pathan, Praveen Kumar.